LOWER LAKE — Injuries were sustained by three Friday afternoon following a head-on collision caused by a distracted teenage driver. Two of the victims required aerial transport for major injuries while the third sustained minor to moderate injuries and was treated a local hospital.
Kevin Wellmerling, 49, of Clearlake was transported via Cal-Star air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for major injuries sustained in the crash. The 17-year-old female driver of the vehicle that caused the collision also sustained major injuries and was transported by Cal-Star as well, to UC Davis Medical Center. The 16-year-old passenger of the teenager”s car was transported by South Lake Fire Department Ambulance to Redbud Community Hospital where she was treated for minor to moderate injuries.
The collision took place at approximately 1:05 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8 just south of A Street near the Twin Lakes Subdivision. According to a report prepared by Clear Lake area California Highway Patrol Officer Adam Garcia, the female driver was traveling southbound in a 2002 Chevy Suburban while Wellmerling was traveling northbound on the highway when the incident occurred.
The juvenile was reportedly distracted and lost control of the Suburban and crossed into the northbound lane where she struck the 1995 Pontiac Grand Am that Wellmerling was driving head-on. According to the CHP report, it was initially claimed that the juvenile had dropped a can of soda at her feet and was attempting to retrieve it when the collision occurred. Furthermore, it was reported that the teenager”s passenger had unbuckled her seatbelt to reach the soda. Both girls are residents of Cobb.
According to Garcia, besides speed, the leading cause of vehicle accidents among teenage drivers is distraction.
Although conditions of a provisional license do not seem to factor into Friday”s collision, teenage drivers are reminded that it is against the law to carry passengers in the vehicle you are operating within the first 12 months of receiving your license. Garcia reported that violation of the law constitutes an infraction and is considered a traffic violation that can be put against your license.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
